Extensible and retractable support

ABSTRACT

An extensible and retractable support mountable under a horizontal supporting structure, such as a counter top, table top, chair seat, or the like, and adapted, when extended, to hold a drinking glass, or other article. The extensible and retractable support includes a horizontal guide means adapted to be secured under the supporting structure inwardly of an outer edge thereof. A horizontal supporting member is slidable horizontally in the guide means between a retracted position beneath the supporting structure and an extended position wherein the supporting member projects outwardly beyond the outer edge of the supporting structure, the projecting portion of the supporting member being provided with an opening therethrough having an axis which is upright in both the extended and retracted positions of the support. A stirrup is pivotally mounted on the supporting member for gravity induced movement into a position below the opening when the supporting member is in its extended position, whereby a drinking glass, or other article, placed in the opening is seatable on the stirrup. The stirrup is pivotable upwardly into a position wherein it is aligned with the supporting member and is insertable into the guide means, whereby the stirrup is retractable into the guide means in response to movement of the supporting member into its retracted position.

United States Patent [1 1 OBrien EXTENSIBLE AND RETRACTABLE SUPPORT [76]Inventor: Edward M. OBrien, 1717 E. St.

Louis Ave., Las Vegas, Nev. 89105 [22] Filed: July 31, 1972 [21] Appl.No.: 276,672

Primary Examiner.l. Franklin Foss A.tt0rneyFord W. Harris, Jr. et al.

[57] ABSTRACT An extensible and retractable support mountable under ahorizontal supporting structure, such as a Jan. 8, 1974 counter top,table top, chair seat, or the like, and adapted, when extended, to holda drinking glass, or other article. The extensible and retractablesupport includes a horizontal guide means adapted to be secured underthe supporting structure inwardly of an outer edge thereof. A horizontalsupporting member is slidable horizontally in the guide means between aretracted position beneath the supporting structure and an extendedposition wherein the supporting member projects outwardly beyond theouter edge of the supporting structure, the projecting portion of thesupporting member being provided with an opening therethrough having anaxis which is upright in both the extended and retracted positions ofthe support. A

stirrup is pivotally mounted on the supporting member for gravityinduced movement into a position below the opening when the supportingmember is in its extended position, whereby a drinking glass, or otherairticle, placed in the opening is seatable on the stirrup. The stirrupis pivotable upwardly into a position wherein it is aligned with thesupporting member and is insertable into the guide means, whereby thestirrup is retractable into the guide means in response to movement ofthe supporting member into its retracted position.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 8 I975 SHEET 2 OF 2 EXTENSIBLEAND RETRACTABLE SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present inventionrelates in general to an extensible and retractable support and, moreparticularly, to a support of this nature which is capable of holding adrinking glass, or other article, when in its extended condition, thesupport being concealed when retracted.

My prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,497,076 and 3,637,184 disclose extensible andretractable supports of the general nature to which the presentinvention relates.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION tensible and retractable support whichincludes: horizontal guide means; means for attaching the guide means toa supporting structure; a horizontal supporting member disposed in andcarried by the guide means and slidable horizontally therein between aretracted position and an extended position wherein the supportingmember projects outwardly; the supporting mem her being provided with anopening therethrough having an axis which is upright in both theextended and the retracted positions of the supporting member, theopening being located outwardly beyond the guide means in the extendedposition of the supporting member; a stirrup pivotally mounted on thesupporting member for gravity induced movement into a position below theopening when the supporting member is in its extended position, wherebyan article placed in the opening is seatable on the stirrup; and thestirrup being pivotable upwardly into a position wherein it is alignedwith the supporting member and insertable into the guide means, wherebythe stirrup is retractable into the guide means in response to movementof the supporting member into its retracted position.

Another object is to provide an extensible and retractable supportwherein the stirrup is U shaped and is pivotally connected to thesupporting member by a pivot means providing a horizontal pivot axisperpendicular to the direction of movement of the supporting memberbetween its extended and retracted positions.

Another object is to provide a guide means comprising horizontallyspaced, parallel horizontal channels facing laterally inwardly towardeach other, and to provide a supporting member comprising a flat platehaving horizontally spaced, parallel edges respectively disposed in thechannels.

Still another object is to provide the stirrup with a handle accessiblewhen the stirrup is in its aligned position and usable to extend andretract the supporting member and the stirrup.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the presentinvention, together with various other objects, advantages, features andresults thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art towhich the invention relates in the light of this disclosure, may beachieved with the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated inthe accompanying drawings and described in detail hereinafter.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table having several of the extensibleand retractable supports of the invention installed under the topthereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a chair having one of the extensible andretractable supports of the invention installed under the seat thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, partially in section and partially inelevation, taken as indicated by the arrowed line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view, with parts broken away, of the extensibleand retractable support of the invention in its retracted condition; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the support in itsextended condition.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Throughout thedrawings, the extensible and retractable support of the invention isdesignated generally by the numeral 10. In each instance, the support 10is mounted under a horizontal supporting structure 12 inwardly of anouter edge 14 thereof, although it may be used in other settings. In itsretracted condition, each support 10 is disposed completely under thesupporting structure 12, as best shown in FIG. 3, while, in its extendedcondition, the support is adapted to hold a drinking glass, or otherarticle, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, the horizontal supporting structure 12 is atable top and, in FIG. 2, it is a chair seat. However, it will beunderstood that the extensible and retractable support 10 of theinvention may be used with any supporting structure under which it canbe mounted, or with other structures.

Turning now to FIGS. 3 to 5 of the drawings, the extensible andretractable support 10 of the invention includes a horizontal guidemeans 16 for a supporting member 18 which is horizontally slidablebetween a retracted position, FIGS. 1 to 4, and an extended position,FIG. 5. The guide means 16 is adapted to be positioned under thesupporting structure 12 inwardly of the outer edge 14 thereof, as bestshown in FIG. 3, and

the supporting member 18, when retracted, is withdrawn into the guidemeans 16 and conpletely under the supporting structure 12, as also bestshown in FIG.

In the construction illustrated, the guide means 16 includes twohorizontally spaced, parallel horizontal channels 20 facing laterallyinwardly toward each other, and the supporting member 18 comprises aflat plate having horizontally spaced, parallel edges 22 extending alonga portion of the plate, the edges respectively slidable in the channels20. The two channels 20 are interconnected by an integral upper wall 24of the guide means 16, which upper wall is suitably secured to the underside of the supporting structure 12. For example, the upper wall 24 maybe secured by means of countersunk screws 26, FIG. 3 through openings27, FIGS. 4 and 5, formed in the wall to facilitate attachment.

The horizontal supporting member 18 is provided adjacent a forward orouter end of reduced horizontal dimension with a circular opening 28 theaxis of which is substantially vertical in both the extended andretracted positions of the supporting member. The opening 28 is of asize to receive a drinking glass, not shown, although it may be of asize and shape to receive any desired article. It will be understoodthat when the supporting member 18 is in its extended position, FIG. 5,the opening 28 is spaced outwardly from the outer edge 14 of thesupporting structure 12 so that a drinking glass, or other article, maybe placed in the opening 28 clear of the outer edge of the supportingstructure. Movement of the supporting member 18 beyond its extended andretracted positions is prevented by a stop pin 30 carried by thesupporting member and engageable with the ends of a horizontal slot 32in one of the channels 20, the pin being slidable along the slot.

The extensible and retractable support of the invention includes aU-shaped stirrup 34 connected to the supporting member 18 by transversehorizontal pivots 36 the axis of which lies on the diameter of theopening 28 which is perpendicular to the direction of movement of thesupporting member between its extended and retracted positions. Thestirrup. 34 is'capable of gravity induced movement downwardly into aposition below the opening 28 when the supporting member 18 is in itsextended position, as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, a drinking glass, or otherarticle, placed in the opening 28 is seatable on the stirrup 34, whichthen supports the article outwardly of the outer edge 14 of thesupporting structure 12.

The stirrup 34 is pivotable upwardly into a position wherein it isaligned with the supporting member 18, as shown in FIG. 4. The outer endof the supporting member 18 and the stirrup 34 have complementaryconfigurations so that the stirrup forms, in effect, an outwardextension of the supporting member 18 when the stirrup is in itsupwardly retracted position. The thickness of the arms of the stirrup 34is substantially the same as that of the supporting member 18, and outeredges 35 of the stirrup are alignable with the edges 22 of thesupporting member so that, when the supporting member is retracted intothe guide means 16, the stirrup 34 is also retracted thereinto, as bestshown in FIG. 4 the outer edges 35 also being slidable in the channels20. in effect, the stirrup 34, when in its upwardly retracted position,constitutes the extreme outer or forward end portion of a horizontalslide member which comprises the supporting member 18 and the stirrup.The stirrup 34 is provided thereon with a handle, such as a knob 38, bymeans of which the stirrup may be pivoted upwardly into its retractedposition, and by means of which the supporting member 18 and the stirrupmay be retracted and extended.

Thus, the present invention provides an extensible and retractablesupport 10 which is concealed when not in use, but which may bewithdrawn readily to receive a drinking glass, or other article,disposed within the opening 28 and seated on the stirrup 34, which areimportant features of the invention.

While the support 10 has been disclosed as mountable under a supportingstructure, it will be understood that it may be used in other locationsas well.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed forpurposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes,modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodimentwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by theclaims appearing hereinafter.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an extensible and retractable support, the combination of:

a horizontal guide means;

b means for attaching said guide means to a supporting structure;

c a horizontal slide member, including a horizontal supporting member,disposed in and carried by said guide means and slidable horizontallytherein between a retracted position within said guide means and anextended position wherein a reduced-width outer end portion of saidsupporting member projects outwardly beyond said guide means;

d said reduced-width portion of said supporting member being providedwith an opening therethrough having an axis which is upright in both theextended and the retracted positions of said slide member, said openingbeing located outwardly beyond said guide means in the extended positionof said slide member;

e said slide member including a stirrup pivotally mounted on saidreduced-width portion of said supporting member for gravity inducedmovement into a position below said opening when said slide member is inits extended position, whereby an article placed in said opening isseatable on said stirrup; and said stirrup being pivotable upwardly intoa retracted position wherein it is aligned with said supporting memberand constitutes the extreme outer end portion of said slide member andis insertable into said guide means, whereby said stirrup is retractableinto said guide means along with said supporting member in response tomovement of said slide member into its retracted position.

2. An extensible and retractable support according to claim 1 whereinsaid stirrup is U shaped and embraces and is pivotally connected to saidreduced-width portion of said supporting member by a pivot meansproviding a horizontal pivot axis perpendicular to the direction ofmovement of said slide member between its extended and retractedpositions.

3. An extensible and retractible support as defined in claim 2 whereinsaid guide means comprises horizontally spaced, parallel horizontalchannels facing laterally inwardly toward each other, and wherein eachof said supporting member and said stirrup have horizontally spaced,parallel edges respectively disposed in said channels in said retractedpositions of said stirrup and said slide member.

4. An extensible and retractable support according to claim 3 whereinsaid guide means includes an upper wall interconnecting said channelsand attachable to the under side of a horizontal supporting structure.

5. An extensible and retractable support as defined in claim 3 whereinsaid stirrup is provided with a handle accessible, when said stirrup isin said aligned position, for extending and retracting said slidemember, comprising said supporting member and said stirrup.

1. In an extensible and retractable support, the combination of: ahorizontal guide means; b means for attaching said guide means to asupporting structure; c a horizontal slide member, including ahorizontal supporting member, disposed in and carried by said guidemeans and slidable horizontally therein between a retracted positionwithin said guide means and an extended position wherein a reduced-widthouter end portion of said supporting member projects outwardly beyondsaid guide means; d said reduced-width portion of said supporting memberbeing provided with an opening therethrough having an axis which isupright in both the extended and the retracted positions of said slidemember, said opening being located outwardly beyond said guide means inthe extended position of said slide member; e said slide memberincluding a stirrup pivotally mounted on said reduced-width portion ofsaid supporting member for gravity induced movement into a positionbelow said opening when said slide member is in its extended position,whereby an article placed in said opening is seatable on said stirrup;and f said stirrup being pivotable upwardly into a retracted positionwherein it is aligned with said supporting member and constitutes theextreme outer end portion of said slide member and is insertable intosaid guide means, whereby said stirrup is retractable into said guidemeans along with said supporting member in response to movement of saidslide member into its retracted position.
 2. An extensible andretractable support according to claim 1 wherein said stirrup is Ushaped and embraces and is pivotally connected to said reduced-widthportion of said supporting member by a pivot means providing ahorizontal pivot axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of saidslide member between its extended and retracted positions.
 3. Anextensible and retractible support as defined in claim 2 wherein saidguide means comprises horizontally spaced, parallel horizontal channelsfacing laterally inwardly toward each other, and wherein each of saidsupporting member and said stirrup have horizontally spaced, paralleledges respectively disposed in said channels in said retracted positionsof said stirrup and said slide member.
 4. An extensible and retractablesupport according to claim 3 wherein said guide means includes an upperwall interconnecting said channels and attachable to the under side of ahorizontal supporting structure.
 5. An extensible and retractablesupport as defined in claim 3 wherein said stirrup is provided with ahandle accessible, when said stirrup is in said aligned position, forextending and retracting said slide member, comprising said supportingmember and said stirrup.